The Surdna Foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in the United States - communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies and thriving cultures. We seek to dismantle the structural barriers that limit opportunity for many, helping to create communities that are prosperous, culturally enriching, and sustainable.

Our approach

• We view grantmaking as part of a larger effort to build the capacity of the field, spark innovative ideas, and connect stakeholders.
• We place a high value on sharing best practices and learnings with others in the field.
• We respect all grantseekers by demonstrating transparency, responsiveness and courtesy.
• We invest in new and emerging ideas that bring others to the table but at the same time, we recognize the importance of long-term and sustained commitments.
• We strive to be responsive to the best thinking and ideas in the field and apply that to our work.

Our programs

We make grants in three areas:

• Sustainable Environments

  The Sustainable Environments Program works to overhaul our country’s low performing infrastructure, much of it outdated and crumbling, with a new approach that will foster healthier, sustainable, and just communities. We believe in the potential of what we call “next generation infrastructure” to improve transit systems, make buildings more energy efficient, better manage our water systems and rebuild regional food systems.

  Please click here for more information about the Sustainable Environments' guidelines.

• Strong Local Economies

  The Strong Local Economies program supports the development of robust and sustainable economies that include a diversity of businesses and access to quality jobs. We work to spur the growth of local businesses, encourage equitable economic development, and improve the quality and availability of jobs for low-income people, communities of color, immigrants, and women.

  Please click here for more information about the Strong Local Economies' guidelines.

• Thriving Cultures

  The Thriving Cultures program believes that communities with robust arts and culture are more cohesive, prosperous and benefit from the rich cultural diversity of their residents. We support efforts to encourage teens to explore the arts, involve artists in community development projects and foster the growth and success of local artists as economic engines and agents for social change.

  Please click here for more information about the Thriving Cultures’ guidelines.

The Foundation works to build strong ties across all three programs as we recognize how they depend on each other to create just and sustainable communities. If you believe your work makes a strong connection between two or more of our programs (Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies and Thriving Cultures), please apply to the program that you feel is the strongest fit and then explain how it meets the objectives of our other program(s). Please review the guidelines for each program to help you determine where you should apply.

In addition to our three core programs, Surdna works to:

Strengthen the economic, environmental, and artistic vitality of New Orleans.

Initiated in 2008, the Foundation has had a longstanding commitment to help the New Orleans area with its long-term rebuilding needs caused by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Five years later, that commitment still stands but we are now aligning our New Orleans grantmaking strategies with the objectives of our three core program areas: Strong Local Economies, Sustainable Environments and Thriving Cultures.  Applicants may consider applying for New Orleans-focused funding based on alignment with one or more of our three programs and must meet their guidelines.

To learn more, visit here.

Support of the health of the nonprofit sector.

Surdna has a long history of supporting and building the capacity of the nonprofit sector through our Capacity and Infrastructure Fund. Reflecting our core values and mission, these grants aim to promote the highest standards of philanthropy and ensure transparency, accountability and integrity.  We make a small number of grants in this category and are unable to accept applications.  

How to apply for a grant

We make both project and general support grants and accept letters of inquiry on a rolling basis.  Because we receive far more letters of inquiry than we are able to support, we can only invite a limited number of applicants to submit a full proposal.  Full proposals are requested by our staff and reviewed by the Foundation’s board of directors in March, July, or December.  If we invite your organization to apply, the Foundation staff will work with you to determine the best possible timing for the board to consider your proposal.

Please visit our program pages (Strong Local Economies, Sustainable Environments, Thriving Cultures) to learn more about our guidelines.

To submit a letter of inquiry, click here.

We seek organizations that:

• Collaborate with other organizations working on the same or complementary issues (i.e. share learnings or research; build networks, alliances, and coalitions; hold strategic convenings; promote best practices within the field, etc.)
• Strive to make long-term impact via public policy, advocacy, or capacity building
• Propose ideas that can be replicated, expanded, and shared broadly with the field
• Engage and build leadership among low-income communities and people of color
• Prioritize principles of equity and social justice in their work
• Maintain sound financial practices and management

We are unable to fund:

We do not fund individuals, capital projects or campaigns, endowments, building construction, academic fellowships, or projects that are internationally based or focused.

Please visit our three program pages: Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies and Thriving Cultures, to learn more about our guidelines and if we are a fit for your organization.

The Surdna Foundation publishes an annual report, and in addition, offers commissioned reports on a range of topics relevant to our work fostering just and sustainable communities.

Annual Reports

2011 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2010 – 6/30/2011
• Download PDF (5.59MB)
• Read Online

2010 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2009 – 6/30/2010
• Download PDF (1.47MB)
• Read Online

2009 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2008 – 6/30/2009
• Download PDF (5.9MB)
• Read Online

2008 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2007 – 6/30/2008
• Download PDF (2.7MB)

2007 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2006 – 6/30/2007
• Download PDF (496K)

2006 Annual Report

• Grants Approved
• 7/1/2005 – 6/30/2006
• Download PDF (244K)

Commissioned Reports

• Building Pathways to Employment in America’s Cities through Integrated Workforce and Cbuildingpathwaysweb.pdf ommunity Development
  

  A report by the National Skills Coalition, funded by the Surdna Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
  October 2012

• A documentation and Analysis of the Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship Program (SATF), The First Decade: 2000-2010

  By Mindy Levine

• Economic Development and Workforce Develpment Systems: A Briefing Paper

  In October 2009, the Surdna Foundation announced new programs to support its mission to help create just and sustainable communities: sustainable environments, thriving cultures, and strong local economies. To help inform its grantmaking to build strong local economies, the Foundation commissioned Mt. Auburn Associates to prepare a white paper on the current structure and challenges of the nation’s workforce and economic development systems. This paper was originally presented as part of a November 9th- 10th, 2009 Board of Trustees meeting.

• Effective Citizenry: A 15 Year Journey Towards a Social Justice Program

• Going Comprehensive: Anatomy of an Initiative that Worked - CCRP in the South Bronx

• Center For Effective Philanthropy: Grantee Perception Report

  In August 2004, Surdna asked the CEP to conduct a comprehensive survey of our grantees to get their perspective on our performance. Read a summary of their report and our response.

• Organizing Change from the Inside Out: Emerging Models of Internal Collaboration In Philanthropy

  A report prepared for the Surdna Foundation by the Hybrid Vigor Institute.

• Strengthening Family Child Care In Low-Income Communities

  This report shows how community-based nonprofits are key to the emergence of an infrastructure of support for family-based care through networks and systems.

• More than Bit Players

  To better understand how the networked economy will affect nonprofits, Surdna commissioned this study from communications policy expert Andrew Blau.

• Implications of Census 2000 Results for the Environment

  Census 2000 contains two important messages for Americans concerned about the environment. One message is numerical, the other political.

Download Surdna's Logo

• Click here to download a .zip file containing Surdna's logo in various file formats.

• Surdna Welcomes New Fellow
• Governors’ Global Climate Summit 2
• Strong Local Econmies Grantee Events
• Thriving cultures Grantee Events

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